parent In Function

<?php

class W {}
class X extends W {}
$x = new X;

$f = function    ()  { return parent::class; };
print $f->call($x);

//function foo(parent $p)  { return $this; }

?>

parent shall only be inside a class, as it refers to the parent class. This does not happen with a function, so the second line in this example produces a Fatal Error.

It does not produce the same error with a Closure, or Arrow function. This is valid code because it is possible to change the underlying object of the closure, and give it a valid class to run it with. This is done with the Closure::call() and Closure::bindTo() methods.

The main problem, in this situation, is that such code is invalid a writing location, and becomes valid later, after some reconfiguration. Sometimes, static analysis finds it hard to track.

See Also

• The Closure class (PHP manual)

• Calling parent on a closure [Try me]

PHP Error Messages

• Cannot use “parent” when no class scope is active

PHP Features

• class

• closure

• function

• parent

Last updated: 14 July 2026